Someone once suggested that many of the most important principles in the Book of Mormon are found in First Nephi. This wasn't a comment against the rich content of the rest of the book, rather an observation that many of the most important principles are introduced or repeated by the book's first inspired author. This allows those of us who start the Book of Mormon more often than we finish it to feast upon the principles most vital to our success.
I don't remember who it was that made that comment. I cannot certify that it is the official position of any person or organization other than the anonymous person who first shared that thought with me. But at the risk of sounding like my high school seminary teacher, I'd like to take this faith-promoting rumor and run with it for bit.
As I've read through the first chapters of First Nephi again, one major theme that I've never noticed before is the role of the Spirit in the lives of Nephi and his family. These roles can be found throughout scripture and are certifiable as official doctrine of the LDS Church, but seem to be concentrated and particularly striking in these first few chapters of the Book of Mormon.
Here are a few examples from the first dozen chapters. Quotes are in italics.
Chapter 1: Lehi, being overcome with the Spirit...was carried away in a vision.
Chapter 2: Lehi spoke to his sons with power, being filled with the Spirit, until their frames did shake before him. And he did confound them, that they durst not utter against him.
Chapter 3: Prophets write the words delivered unto them by the Spirit.
Chapter 4: In pursuit of the scriptural record held by Laban, Nephi was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which [he] should do.
Chapter 5: When Lehi was filled with the Spirit, he began to prophesy
Chapter 7: The city of Jerusalem will be destroyed because the Spirit of the Lord ceaseth soon to strive with them.
Chapter 10: The mysteries of God are unfolded by the power of the Holy Ghost, which is the gift of God unto all those who diligently seek him.
Chapter 11: Nephi is caught away in the Spirit of the Lord, yea, unto an exceedingly high mountain where he saw his father's dream, learned the interpretation thereof, a spoke to the Holy Ghost as a man speaketh; for [he] beheld that he was in the form of a man.
Chapter 12: The Holy Ghost bears record of Christ from the beginning of the world until this time, and from this time henceforth and forever.
These few examples are by no means an exhaustive list. Within these same chapters the Spirit constrains or gives authority for Nephi to speak, testifies of the truths Lehi reads in a book and preserves scripture for future generations. Throughout the rest of the Book of Mormon, Bible and other scripture, still other roles for the Holy Ghost are discovered and expounded.
Yet, even from these first 23 pages of the Book of Mormon, less than 5 percent of the text, we learn a great deal about the third member of the Godhead. He can enlighten our minds with visions or prophecies and teach us what they mean. He testifies of the truth, including the reality of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and inspires us to write down what we learn. He can exercise great physical power, shaking our physical frames or carrying us to places we have never been before. He preserves records, people and even entire cities. He is in the form of a man and has an eternal purpose and destiny.
The Holy Ghost shares the mission statement of our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, to "bring to pass the immortality and eternal life" of each of us (Moses 1:39). His many abilities are used to that end. Understanding the way the Holy Ghost can and will influence our lives is likely among the most important principles we can learn in this life, regardless of where it may be expounded upon in scripture. As we seek to improve our lives and bring salvation to ourselves and those around us, we will have the tools we need to be successful as we heed the message inspired by the Spirit and delivered by the living prophet at our most recent conference:
Be influenced by that still, small voice. Remember that one with authority placed his hands on your head at the time of your confirmation and said, 'Receive the Holy Ghost.' Open your hearts, even your very souls, to the sound of that special voice which testifies of truth. As the prophet Isaiah promised, 'Thine ears shall hear a word... saying, This is the way, walk ye in it.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Friday, April 13, 2012
Family Disputes in Scripture
In his most recent General Conference address, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf helped us all understand a little more of what the gospel says about strained family relationships. He titled his remarks, "The Merciful Obtain Mercy", intended to remind us all that "with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again."
The scriptures, as always, include instructions on how to respond to strain and pressure on our family relationships. They teach us that these struggles are as old as time itself: Lucifer rebelled against God and divided our premortal family; Cain slew his brother, Abel, in the earliest years of human existence. The root causes of these and other family disputes-- pride, envy, lust for power and others-- are a part of our human natures; the scriptures remind us that our challenge is to put off the natural man and become a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord (Mosiah 3:19).
One particularly instructive example is the Old Testament story of Joseph. Joseph was the favorite son of his father and was blessed with the spiritual gifts to have and interpret dreams. Some of his dreams prophesied that his family would one day make obeisance to him. Joseph's brothers became angry with what they saw as Joseph's haughtiness and favored treatment from their father. Some of his brothers wanted to kill him. Reuben and Judah convinced their brothers to spare Joseph's life and sell him to a caravan instead.
Joseph spent several years as a slave and as a prisoner because of his brothers' actions. When Joseph encounters his brothers again in Egypt there were anxious moments. At first, Joseph didn't want his brothers to recognize him. Now in a position of power, Joseph was in a position to exact revenge on his brothers if he desired. He could've sent them to prison, sold them as slaves or had them killed. Instead, Joseph orchestrated the reunion of the entire family and saved their lives by providing much-needed grain in a terrible drought.
Nephi also experienced contention in his family. His brothers, Laman and Lemuel, beat him with a rod, tied him up and tried to kill him on more than one occasion. Nephi's in-laws were prone to complaining and sometimes helped Laman and Lemuel attack their brother, Nephi. Even Nephi's dad, a prophet of God, complained against Nephi to the point that he must be severely chastised.
As with Joseph, Nephi surely had some anxious family moments. Before his brothers attempted murder, there were surely disagreements and fights just as in Joseph's family. Nephi and Joseph chose to forgive, even when their offending brethren were unrepentant. In Nephi's case, he eventually had to move his family away from his violent and dangerous brothers. His story doesn't have the happy ending that Joseph's does. But in each case, the Lord used the trials to the benefit of those willing to forgive-- and as a testament against those who persecuted them. Joseph became an overseer in Egypt and the birthright son of his father, Israel. Nephi prospered in the promised land as a prophet and king.
In our families, we are likely to experience strain on our family relationships like Joseph and Nephi did. We may not see the resolution to these disputes that we would like, just as Nephi was unable to persuade his brothers to be humble and seek after righteousness. Sometimes divorce, separation or muted lines of communication will happen or even must happen to protect our families.As we choose to forgive anyway, we will experience what President Uchtdorf explained in his address:
The more we allow the love of God to govern our minds and emotions—the more we allow our love for our Heavenly Father to swell within our hearts—the easier it is to love others with the pure love of Christ. As we open our hearts to the glowing dawn of the love of God, the darkness and cold of animosity and envy will eventually fade...
People do things that annoy, disappoint, and anger. In this mortal life it will always be that way.
The scriptures, as always, include instructions on how to respond to strain and pressure on our family relationships. They teach us that these struggles are as old as time itself: Lucifer rebelled against God and divided our premortal family; Cain slew his brother, Abel, in the earliest years of human existence. The root causes of these and other family disputes-- pride, envy, lust for power and others-- are a part of our human natures; the scriptures remind us that our challenge is to put off the natural man and become a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord (Mosiah 3:19).
One particularly instructive example is the Old Testament story of Joseph. Joseph was the favorite son of his father and was blessed with the spiritual gifts to have and interpret dreams. Some of his dreams prophesied that his family would one day make obeisance to him. Joseph's brothers became angry with what they saw as Joseph's haughtiness and favored treatment from their father. Some of his brothers wanted to kill him. Reuben and Judah convinced their brothers to spare Joseph's life and sell him to a caravan instead.
Joseph spent several years as a slave and as a prisoner because of his brothers' actions. When Joseph encounters his brothers again in Egypt there were anxious moments. At first, Joseph didn't want his brothers to recognize him. Now in a position of power, Joseph was in a position to exact revenge on his brothers if he desired. He could've sent them to prison, sold them as slaves or had them killed. Instead, Joseph orchestrated the reunion of the entire family and saved their lives by providing much-needed grain in a terrible drought.
Nephi also experienced contention in his family. His brothers, Laman and Lemuel, beat him with a rod, tied him up and tried to kill him on more than one occasion. Nephi's in-laws were prone to complaining and sometimes helped Laman and Lemuel attack their brother, Nephi. Even Nephi's dad, a prophet of God, complained against Nephi to the point that he must be severely chastised.
As with Joseph, Nephi surely had some anxious family moments. Before his brothers attempted murder, there were surely disagreements and fights just as in Joseph's family. Nephi and Joseph chose to forgive, even when their offending brethren were unrepentant. In Nephi's case, he eventually had to move his family away from his violent and dangerous brothers. His story doesn't have the happy ending that Joseph's does. But in each case, the Lord used the trials to the benefit of those willing to forgive-- and as a testament against those who persecuted them. Joseph became an overseer in Egypt and the birthright son of his father, Israel. Nephi prospered in the promised land as a prophet and king.
In our families, we are likely to experience strain on our family relationships like Joseph and Nephi did. We may not see the resolution to these disputes that we would like, just as Nephi was unable to persuade his brothers to be humble and seek after righteousness. Sometimes divorce, separation or muted lines of communication will happen or even must happen to protect our families.As we choose to forgive anyway, we will experience what President Uchtdorf explained in his address:
The more we allow the love of God to govern our minds and emotions—the more we allow our love for our Heavenly Father to swell within our hearts—the easier it is to love others with the pure love of Christ. As we open our hearts to the glowing dawn of the love of God, the darkness and cold of animosity and envy will eventually fade...
People do things that annoy, disappoint, and anger. In this mortal life it will always be that way.
Nevertheless, we must let go of our grievances. Part of the purpose of mortality is to learn how to let go of such things. That is the Lord’s way.
He concluded with a challenge that would be good for each of us to observe:
Remember, heaven is filled with those who have this in common: They are forgiven. And they forgive.
Lay
your burden at the Savior’s feet. Let go of judgment. Allow Christ’s
Atonement to change and heal your heart. Love one another. Forgive one
another.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Headwinds and Tailwinds
As I've started riding my bike to work in recent months, I have learned a great deal about the importance of wind. The wind blows most every day across the fields and desert around my home and along the four-mile stretch of road to the building where I work. Unseen and usually unheard, the strength and direction of the wind can be the difference between riding to work in record time and arriving exhausted from a hard-fought commute.
Most often my ride to work begins with the hope for a tailwind. I want to be as Nephi, "driven forth before the wind towards the promise land". I want to go fast without as much effort and be able to share with those around me when I arrive just how fast I can go on my bike.
That's not usually how it goes, however.
Eighty percent of the time, there is a headwind. It bursts and blows and opposes my progress. Pedaling becomes more difficult, level road feels like an uphill climb and progress toward my destination seems unbearably slow. I can see reality on my speedometer-- it's not as grim as it feels-- but burning leg muscles and a pounding heart believe I'm in the mountain-splitting winds experienced by Elijah.
I'm grateful for the lessons the wind has taught me the last few months on my brief trek to work. In my own mind, the wind has served as a strong metaphor for life. The headwinds are hard to face, but riding in headwinds has improved my strength and ability more rapidly than riding in tailwinds, which I usually take for granted. Somehow the push of a tailwind is harder to notice and the resulting successes easier to attribute to my own strength and effort.
I've also learned that there are places I can look for help riding in the wind. From the main road I can see a large flag marking a new housing development about halfway down the road. The flag flies high above the houses and shows the strength and direction the wind is blowing. My cyclocomputer keeps reality and view, showing my speed, distance and how much time I have left to be at work. In a strong wind, shifting gears makes pedaling easier. In the dark of night, a headlight keeps my path lit and helps passing traffic to know that I am there. And when I am exhausted at the end of a long day or a long week, willing friends can load my bike into their pickup trucks and drive me home.
The same aids are available in life. Prophets and apostles share with us each conference and in the Ensign the way the storms of life will blow on the road ahead. Scriptures keep our minds filled with truth and free from the mental and spiritual traps in the philosophies of men. Frequent and faithful prayer keeps our paths lit and our spirits in tune with the still, small voice that will guide and protect us from danger.
And when we are exhausted, we can remember the words of Amos:
For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The Lord, The God of hosts, is his name.
One night near the beginning of the ministry of Christ, a "great storm of wind" began to fill his ship with water. Christ's disciples awoke him from his sleep, panicked at the possibility of drowning in the storm-tossed sea. Christ arose, "and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm".
Just as Christ can calm the winds, he can lift the burdens in our lives. Through Christ, we can feel the relief of forgiveness, the strength to endure and the great calm of the Holy Ghost. As we put our trust in Christ, our friend, we will be able to exclaim:
Master, the terror is over.
Most often my ride to work begins with the hope for a tailwind. I want to be as Nephi, "driven forth before the wind towards the promise land". I want to go fast without as much effort and be able to share with those around me when I arrive just how fast I can go on my bike.
That's not usually how it goes, however.
Eighty percent of the time, there is a headwind. It bursts and blows and opposes my progress. Pedaling becomes more difficult, level road feels like an uphill climb and progress toward my destination seems unbearably slow. I can see reality on my speedometer-- it's not as grim as it feels-- but burning leg muscles and a pounding heart believe I'm in the mountain-splitting winds experienced by Elijah.
I'm grateful for the lessons the wind has taught me the last few months on my brief trek to work. In my own mind, the wind has served as a strong metaphor for life. The headwinds are hard to face, but riding in headwinds has improved my strength and ability more rapidly than riding in tailwinds, which I usually take for granted. Somehow the push of a tailwind is harder to notice and the resulting successes easier to attribute to my own strength and effort.
I've also learned that there are places I can look for help riding in the wind. From the main road I can see a large flag marking a new housing development about halfway down the road. The flag flies high above the houses and shows the strength and direction the wind is blowing. My cyclocomputer keeps reality and view, showing my speed, distance and how much time I have left to be at work. In a strong wind, shifting gears makes pedaling easier. In the dark of night, a headlight keeps my path lit and helps passing traffic to know that I am there. And when I am exhausted at the end of a long day or a long week, willing friends can load my bike into their pickup trucks and drive me home.
The same aids are available in life. Prophets and apostles share with us each conference and in the Ensign the way the storms of life will blow on the road ahead. Scriptures keep our minds filled with truth and free from the mental and spiritual traps in the philosophies of men. Frequent and faithful prayer keeps our paths lit and our spirits in tune with the still, small voice that will guide and protect us from danger.
And when we are exhausted, we can remember the words of Amos:
For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The Lord, The God of hosts, is his name.
One night near the beginning of the ministry of Christ, a "great storm of wind" began to fill his ship with water. Christ's disciples awoke him from his sleep, panicked at the possibility of drowning in the storm-tossed sea. Christ arose, "and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm".
Just as Christ can calm the winds, he can lift the burdens in our lives. Through Christ, we can feel the relief of forgiveness, the strength to endure and the great calm of the Holy Ghost. As we put our trust in Christ, our friend, we will be able to exclaim:
Master, the terror is over.The elements sweetly rest.
Earth's sun in the calm lake is mirrored,
And heaven's within my breast.
Linger, O blessed Redeemer!
Leave me alone no more,
And with joy I shall make the blest harbor
And rest on the blissful shore.
Monday, March 5, 2012
The Most Joyous to the Soul
At some time in life, and to varying degrees throughout life, all of us seek to know if God is real and if he is mindful of us. The history of man is filled with accounts of men and women from every continent, ethnic group and generation seeking communion with an all-powerful, all-knowing deity. Something about it just feels natural.
We feel the stirring in our souls when we stare up at a star-filled sky or breathe in a scenic mountain sunrise. We feel peace in our hearts when we look out over a calm ocean horizon or stop to notice the great breadth of a clear blue sky. Paul explains that these feelings of gratitude and awe are from God, our Heavenly Father: "The work of the law [is] written in [our] hearts, [our] conscience also bearing witness" (Romans 2:15). And again, "The Spirit itself beareth witness with out spirit, that we are the children of God" (Romans 8:16). No wonder our hearts reach out to God so often when we long for happiness and joy; our conscience testifies that such comes from God.
Nephi shared what he learned by the Spirit: "The love of God... sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore it is the most desirable above all things... and the most joyous to the soul" (1 Nephi 11:22-23). Using the superlative "most" in both cases should capture our attention. Our souls, regardless of our conscious thought, most want to feel the love of God. This is what would bring us the most joy-- more than any other thing we could do or say or think or feel.
So how do we obtain the love of God?
First, we must understand how God extends his love to us. John wrote that "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). Elder Maxwell expounded:
Because of that profound gift of divine love, all mankind will be resurrected (1 Cor. 15:22). In truth, God 'loveth the world' (2 Nephi 26:24). He crafted this planet to be inhabited by us, His spirit children (Isaiah 45:18). We are, in fact, at the center of God's 'work and glory,' the very focus of which is to 'bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man' (Moses 1:39). What could be more indicative? More declarative? More redemptive? ("Whom the Lord Loveth", 36).
God extends his love to us through the Creation, the Atonement, the Resurrection and thousands of tender mercies, answered prayers and whispered directions in between. In short, we are safe to conclude that God extends his love to us through Christ, our Mediator, Creator, Savior and King.
So we may improve our question: "How do we access the love of God through Christ?"
Nephi's commentary is very useful in reaching this goal. Interpreting his father's dream, Nephi writes that the center figure of the vision, a tree bearing fruit, was symbolic of the love of God. His father, Lehi, describes the fruit as, "desirable to make one happy", "most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted", and "white, to exceed all the whiteness that I had ever seen". In the midst of fog, noise and confusion, two markers led the way to the tree: an iron rod and a narrow path.
The iron rod is symbolic of the world of God. So we know that the word of God leads to the love of God; or, that scripture points the way to Christ. Yet, knowing how to get there is not the same as being there. Holding fast to the iron rod, we must also walk along the narrow path. We must act upon what we know to be true. Several scripture passages emphasize that walking along the path especially includes having faith, repenting of our sins, being baptized by immersion for the remission of sins and receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost.
Just as knowledge without actions is static, if we act without knowledge we can become lost in the fog and confusion of the world. If we are to experience the most joy our soul can possibly experience, we must combine the pursuit of knowledge through regular scripture study with a willingness to continually improve our ability to obey the commandments of God we find in scripture.
It is also of no coincidence that our pursuit of the love of God will require us to develop charity, the pure and everlasting love of Christ in our hearts. This is a very robust, sincere kind of love. As we learn to love our fellow man as Christ loves them, and as we learn and act more upon what we know, we will find that we have become a great deal like our Savior, Jesus Christ, and our Father in Heaven.
This is what brings the greatest possible joy to our souls. Putting forth the required effort, we become as He is-- granting us the same blessings that he now enjoys. Justified and sanctified by the power of the Atonement, we may recognize and feel the love of God.
Our incomprehensible potential should affect how we see the world. In the stars or the flowers or the smiles of small children we catch a glimpse of God's love-- reminders of what could be. In the commandments of God, we find the keys to our success and the map to our desired destination. In obedient and righteous action we bring ourselves nearer to the goal and expand our capacity for love and joy through frequent application.
What a joy it truly is, then, to be as involved as we possibly can in the learning and living of gospel principles! A work with so great a reward could never be a burden. With cheerful hearts and scriptures in hand, we can grab hold of the iron rod and take another step or two toward the greatest joy for our souls. We can do it today. We can start now.
May God bless each of us in our journey to become as He is.
Nephi shared what he learned by the Spirit: "The love of God... sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore it is the most desirable above all things... and the most joyous to the soul" (1 Nephi 11:22-23). Using the superlative "most" in both cases should capture our attention. Our souls, regardless of our conscious thought, most want to feel the love of God. This is what would bring us the most joy-- more than any other thing we could do or say or think or feel.
So how do we obtain the love of God?
First, we must understand how God extends his love to us. John wrote that "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). Elder Maxwell expounded:
God extends his love to us through the Creation, the Atonement, the Resurrection and thousands of tender mercies, answered prayers and whispered directions in between. In short, we are safe to conclude that God extends his love to us through Christ, our Mediator, Creator, Savior and King.
So we may improve our question: "How do we access the love of God through Christ?"
The iron rod is symbolic of the world of God. So we know that the word of God leads to the love of God; or, that scripture points the way to Christ. Yet, knowing how to get there is not the same as being there. Holding fast to the iron rod, we must also walk along the narrow path. We must act upon what we know to be true. Several scripture passages emphasize that walking along the path especially includes having faith, repenting of our sins, being baptized by immersion for the remission of sins and receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost.
Just as knowledge without actions is static, if we act without knowledge we can become lost in the fog and confusion of the world. If we are to experience the most joy our soul can possibly experience, we must combine the pursuit of knowledge through regular scripture study with a willingness to continually improve our ability to obey the commandments of God we find in scripture.
This is what brings the greatest possible joy to our souls. Putting forth the required effort, we become as He is-- granting us the same blessings that he now enjoys. Justified and sanctified by the power of the Atonement, we may recognize and feel the love of God.
Our incomprehensible potential should affect how we see the world. In the stars or the flowers or the smiles of small children we catch a glimpse of God's love-- reminders of what could be. In the commandments of God, we find the keys to our success and the map to our desired destination. In obedient and righteous action we bring ourselves nearer to the goal and expand our capacity for love and joy through frequent application.
What a joy it truly is, then, to be as involved as we possibly can in the learning and living of gospel principles! A work with so great a reward could never be a burden. With cheerful hearts and scriptures in hand, we can grab hold of the iron rod and take another step or two toward the greatest joy for our souls. We can do it today. We can start now.
May God bless each of us in our journey to become as He is.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
The Church and Race
Find the official statement here. I quote:
The gospel of Jesus Christ is for everyone. The Book of Mormon states, “black and white, bond and free, male and female; … all are alike unto God” (2 Nephi 26:33). This is the Church’s official teaching.
People of all races have always been welcomed and baptized into the Church since its beginning. In fact, by the end of his life in 1844 Joseph Smith, the founding prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, opposed slavery. During this time some black males were ordained to the priesthood. At some point the Church stopped ordaining male members of African descent, although there were a few exceptions. It is not known precisely why, how or when this restriction began in the Church, but it has ended. Church leaders sought divine guidance regarding the issue and more than three decades ago extended the priesthood to all worthy male members. The Church immediately began ordaining members to priesthood offices wherever they attended throughout the world.
The Church unequivocally condemns racism, including any and all past racism by individuals both inside and outside the Church. In 2006, then Church president Gordon B. Hinckley declared that “no man who makes disparaging remarks concerning those of another race can consider himself a true disciple of Christ. Nor can he consider himself to be in harmony with the teachings of the Church. Let us all recognize that each of us is a son or daughter of our Father in Heaven, who loves all of His children.”
Recently, the Church has also made the following statement on this subject:
“The origins of priesthood availability are not entirely clear. Some explanations with respect to this matter were made in the absence of direct revelation and references to these explanations are sometimes cited in publications. These previous personal statements do not represent Church doctrine.”
The gospel of Jesus Christ is for everyone. The Book of Mormon states, “black and white, bond and free, male and female; … all are alike unto God” (2 Nephi 26:33). This is the Church’s official teaching.
People of all races have always been welcomed and baptized into the Church since its beginning. In fact, by the end of his life in 1844 Joseph Smith, the founding prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, opposed slavery. During this time some black males were ordained to the priesthood. At some point the Church stopped ordaining male members of African descent, although there were a few exceptions. It is not known precisely why, how or when this restriction began in the Church, but it has ended. Church leaders sought divine guidance regarding the issue and more than three decades ago extended the priesthood to all worthy male members. The Church immediately began ordaining members to priesthood offices wherever they attended throughout the world.
The Church unequivocally condemns racism, including any and all past racism by individuals both inside and outside the Church. In 2006, then Church president Gordon B. Hinckley declared that “no man who makes disparaging remarks concerning those of another race can consider himself a true disciple of Christ. Nor can he consider himself to be in harmony with the teachings of the Church. Let us all recognize that each of us is a son or daughter of our Father in Heaven, who loves all of His children.”
Recently, the Church has also made the following statement on this subject:
“The origins of priesthood availability are not entirely clear. Some explanations with respect to this matter were made in the absence of direct revelation and references to these explanations are sometimes cited in publications. These previous personal statements do not represent Church doctrine.”
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Face Cards
It is sometimes surprising to see how passionate a discussion over something as small and simple as face cards can become. I'm not sure why that is, but to make this post as clear and authoritative as possible I've split it into three sections: quotes from Church leaders, reaction and underlying principles.
Section I: Quotes
Let's start with a few that are clearly doctrine and the position of the Church:
While a simple game of cards in itself may be harmless, it is a fact that by immoderate repetition it ends in an infatuation for chance schemes, in habits of excess, in waste of precious time, in dulling and stupor of the mind, and in the complete destruction of religious feeling. These are serious results, evils that should and must be avoided by the Latter-day Saints. Then again, there is the grave danger that lurks in persistent card playing, which begets the spirit of gambling, of speculation and that awakens the dangerous desire to get something for nothing (President Joseph F. Smith, Improvement Era, Vol. 6, August, 1903, p. 779).
Card playing is an intoxicating and therefore, in the nature of a vice. It is generally the companion of the cigaret and wine glass.....A deck of cards in the hands of a faithful servant of God is a satire upon religion...Those who thus indulge are not fit to administer in sacred ordinance...The bishops are charged with the responsibility for the evil and it is their duty to see that it is abolished...No man who is addicted to card playing should be called to act as a ward teacher.....Card playing is a game of chance and because it is a game of chance it has its tricks. It encourages tricks.... (President Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed., pp. 328-332) .
We hope faithful Latter-day Saints will not use the playing cards which are used for gambling, either with or without the gambling. As for the gambling, in connection with horse racing or games or sports, we firmly discourage such things (President Spencer W. Kimball, "God Will Not Be Mocked", October 1974 General Conference).
One's character may be determined in some measure by the quality of one's amusements. Men and women of industrious business-like, and thoughtful habits care little for frivolous pastimes, for pleasures that are sought for their own sake. It is not easy to imagine that leading men in the Church would find any pleasure that was either inspiring or helpful at the card table (President Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed., Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1939, p. 329).
One type of gambling that has been vigorously criticized by our leaders is card playing. Cards may, of course, be played without playing for money, but the relationship between card playing and gambling is so close and the practice of card playing itself partakes of so many of the disadvantages of gambling that card playing has come under condemnation regardless of whether or not gambling is involved (Dallin H. Oaks, November 1972 Ensign).
The next pair are from private writings of church leaders which may be useful for their insights but cannot officially be called doctrine:
It follows that if members of the Church believe false doctrines; if they accept false educational theories; if they fall into the practices and abominations of the sectarians; if they use tea, coffee, tobacco or liquor; if they fail to pay an honest tithing; if they find fault with the Lord's anointed; if they play cards; if they do anything contrary to the standards of personal righteousness required by the gospel -- then to that extent they are in personal apostasy and need to repent. Members of the Church should not belong to bridge or other type of card clubs, and they should neither play cards nor have them in their homes. By cards is meant, of course, the spotted face cards used by gamblers. To the extent that church members play cards they are out of harmony with their inspired leaders. Innocent non-gambling games played with other types of cards, except for the waste of time in many instances, are not objectionable. (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2d ed., p. 113).
It must be added that relaxation from the regular duties of the day is desirable and necessary for human well-being. Wholesome games of recreation are advocated by all right-minded people. Moreover, the objections [to card playing] are not directed against the many and various card games on the market not employing the usual "playing cards." Most of these furnish innocent and wholesome recreation, and many are really instructive. It is true that they may be played to excess, but in fact it seldom happens. This is true even when such cards are used in games imitating those with 'playing cards.' It is true that such cards may be used for gambling purposes, but in fact it is almost never done. The pall of evil seems to rest upon the 'playing cards' handed down to us from antiquity (John A. Widtsoe, Evidences and Reconciliations, Murray & Gee, 1943, pp. 218-19).
And finally, here are a few that I found quoted online but without verifiable sources.
It has been observed through centuries of experience that the habit of card playing becomes fixed upon a person and increases until he feels that a day without a game of cards is incomplete. After an afternoon or evening at card-playing, nothing has been changed, no new knowledge, thoughts, or visions have come, no new hopes or aspirations have been generated, except for another opportunity to waste precious hours. It leads nowhere; it is a dead-end road. Dull and deadly is a life which does not seek to immerse itself in the rapidly moving stream of new and increasing knowledge and power. Time is required to ‘keep up with the times.’ We dare not waste time on pastimes that starve the soul. ~Elder John A. Widtsoe
The Church, as a church, requests its members not to play cards. ~ President Heber J. Grant
Burn up playing cards if you have any. ~ President Brigham Young
Let all chance games be banished from our families. ~ President Joseph F. Smith
Section II: Reaction
There is no shortage of clarity on the issue of face cards from past church leaders. They've provided several reasons to avoid using face cards. The bottom line is, regardless of how you or I feel about face cards, our decision to use or abstain from using face cards is simply one more chance to follow and sustain the prophet or to fall short of our covenants to do so. For something that seems as trivial or even as silly as face cards, this is some heavy stuff. The strong language in the quotes above made that abundantly clear.
Interestingly, my experience suggests the most common reactions to teachings such as these on playing cards tends to be emotionally charged in one of two directions. One is the guilty or perhaps just overwhelmed approach. People in this group say things like, "I've got a lot of bigger things to worry about before I think about face cards". They're probably right, but that's beside the point. These people begin their comments with a confession and usually share a story of how they played cards growing up or on their mission or in some other way so that they're now immune from any negative consequences.
The second emotionally charged response is to mock. This group tries to minimize the importance of the teaching by saying things like, "this is only for uptight Mormons; it's really not a big deal". Like the first group, these people know that changing the cards they play with is easy to do, but they choose not to anyway.
A third, much less charged response is to accept and follow. I liked the logic of one blogger I found who had this to say:
It seems silly you know? Are times different now? Are face cards not as threatening as they were then? I don't know. But I know this. If it's another way that I can bring the Spirit in more fully to my home then sign me up!!!
These three responses are the same responses that come out in discussions about movies, modesty, coffee and tea, earrings, full church block attendance, etc. As a group, these topics and others like them find common ground in a desire to be 'normal', or like the rest of the world.
Section III: Principles
Of course, the doctrine regarding the righteous man or woman's place in the world is also well established, and it doesn't leave a lot of room for conformity. A few scriptures spring to mind:
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other ; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Matthew 6:24.
For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord. Mosiah 3:19.
Behold, I, the Lord, who was crucified for the sins of the world, give unto you a commandment that you shall forsake the world. Doctrine and Covenants 53:2.
I give not unto you that ye shall live after the manner of the world. Doctrine and Covenants 93:13.
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Revelation 3:16.
So here we are. It seems like such a minor thing, at least in the context the world has given us. Perhaps it is not unlike when the children of Israel were bitten by serpents and only had to look to be healed. Because of the easiness of the task, many perished (1 Nephi 17:41). The decision is left up to us. We choose to obey or not to obey. We decide how important the prophets' words are in our lives.
Our decision may depend some on our view of commandments and counsel in general. If we believe that the guidelines and prophetic teachings in the church are restrictive or somehow an attempt to control our behavior, we misunderstand them. God cannot break his own laws. Rather, just as a conversation with a billionaire would leave us with some tips for wealth-building success, the commandments of God are necessary steps to a successful life from a loving Heavenly Father who has achieved the greatest success life can bring. Obedience to his counsel will bring happiness, prosperity and exaltation.
The leaders of the church have highlighted the negative effects of playing cards. The scriptures teach that we should not live the way the world lives. Both sources are inspired by God, who knows best how to achieve success in life. Then the question comes: Is it really going to make a difference whether we use face cards or some other kind of cards?
Well, I don't know. But I'll tell you this: I'm willing to bet on it.
Section I: Quotes
Let's start with a few that are clearly doctrine and the position of the Church:
 |
| Joseph F. Smith |
Card playing is an intoxicating and therefore, in the nature of a vice. It is generally the companion of the cigaret and wine glass.....A deck of cards in the hands of a faithful servant of God is a satire upon religion...Those who thus indulge are not fit to administer in sacred ordinance...The bishops are charged with the responsibility for the evil and it is their duty to see that it is abolished...No man who is addicted to card playing should be called to act as a ward teacher.....Card playing is a game of chance and because it is a game of chance it has its tricks. It encourages tricks.... (President Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed., pp. 328-332) .
 | |
| Spencer W. Kimball |
One's character may be determined in some measure by the quality of one's amusements. Men and women of industrious business-like, and thoughtful habits care little for frivolous pastimes, for pleasures that are sought for their own sake. It is not easy to imagine that leading men in the Church would find any pleasure that was either inspiring or helpful at the card table (President Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed., Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1939, p. 329).
 |
| Dallin H. Oaks |
The next pair are from private writings of church leaders which may be useful for their insights but cannot officially be called doctrine:
 |
| Bruce R. McConkie |
It must be added that relaxation from the regular duties of the day is desirable and necessary for human well-being. Wholesome games of recreation are advocated by all right-minded people. Moreover, the objections [to card playing] are not directed against the many and various card games on the market not employing the usual "playing cards." Most of these furnish innocent and wholesome recreation, and many are really instructive. It is true that they may be played to excess, but in fact it seldom happens. This is true even when such cards are used in games imitating those with 'playing cards.' It is true that such cards may be used for gambling purposes, but in fact it is almost never done. The pall of evil seems to rest upon the 'playing cards' handed down to us from antiquity (John A. Widtsoe, Evidences and Reconciliations, Murray & Gee, 1943, pp. 218-19).And finally, here are a few that I found quoted online but without verifiable sources.
It has been observed through centuries of experience that the habit of card playing becomes fixed upon a person and increases until he feels that a day without a game of cards is incomplete. After an afternoon or evening at card-playing, nothing has been changed, no new knowledge, thoughts, or visions have come, no new hopes or aspirations have been generated, except for another opportunity to waste precious hours. It leads nowhere; it is a dead-end road. Dull and deadly is a life which does not seek to immerse itself in the rapidly moving stream of new and increasing knowledge and power. Time is required to ‘keep up with the times.’ We dare not waste time on pastimes that starve the soul. ~Elder John A. Widtsoe
The Church, as a church, requests its members not to play cards. ~ President Heber J. Grant
Burn up playing cards if you have any. ~ President Brigham Young
Let all chance games be banished from our families. ~ President Joseph F. Smith
Section II: Reaction
There is no shortage of clarity on the issue of face cards from past church leaders. They've provided several reasons to avoid using face cards. The bottom line is, regardless of how you or I feel about face cards, our decision to use or abstain from using face cards is simply one more chance to follow and sustain the prophet or to fall short of our covenants to do so. For something that seems as trivial or even as silly as face cards, this is some heavy stuff. The strong language in the quotes above made that abundantly clear.
Interestingly, my experience suggests the most common reactions to teachings such as these on playing cards tends to be emotionally charged in one of two directions. One is the guilty or perhaps just overwhelmed approach. People in this group say things like, "I've got a lot of bigger things to worry about before I think about face cards". They're probably right, but that's beside the point. These people begin their comments with a confession and usually share a story of how they played cards growing up or on their mission or in some other way so that they're now immune from any negative consequences.
The second emotionally charged response is to mock. This group tries to minimize the importance of the teaching by saying things like, "this is only for uptight Mormons; it's really not a big deal". Like the first group, these people know that changing the cards they play with is easy to do, but they choose not to anyway.
A third, much less charged response is to accept and follow. I liked the logic of one blogger I found who had this to say:
It seems silly you know? Are times different now? Are face cards not as threatening as they were then? I don't know. But I know this. If it's another way that I can bring the Spirit in more fully to my home then sign me up!!!
These three responses are the same responses that come out in discussions about movies, modesty, coffee and tea, earrings, full church block attendance, etc. As a group, these topics and others like them find common ground in a desire to be 'normal', or like the rest of the world.
Section III: Principles
Of course, the doctrine regarding the righteous man or woman's place in the world is also well established, and it doesn't leave a lot of room for conformity. A few scriptures spring to mind:
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other ; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Matthew 6:24.
For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord. Mosiah 3:19.
Behold, I, the Lord, who was crucified for the sins of the world, give unto you a commandment that you shall forsake the world. Doctrine and Covenants 53:2.
I give not unto you that ye shall live after the manner of the world. Doctrine and Covenants 93:13.
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Revelation 3:16.
So here we are. It seems like such a minor thing, at least in the context the world has given us. Perhaps it is not unlike when the children of Israel were bitten by serpents and only had to look to be healed. Because of the easiness of the task, many perished (1 Nephi 17:41). The decision is left up to us. We choose to obey or not to obey. We decide how important the prophets' words are in our lives.
Our decision may depend some on our view of commandments and counsel in general. If we believe that the guidelines and prophetic teachings in the church are restrictive or somehow an attempt to control our behavior, we misunderstand them. God cannot break his own laws. Rather, just as a conversation with a billionaire would leave us with some tips for wealth-building success, the commandments of God are necessary steps to a successful life from a loving Heavenly Father who has achieved the greatest success life can bring. Obedience to his counsel will bring happiness, prosperity and exaltation.
The leaders of the church have highlighted the negative effects of playing cards. The scriptures teach that we should not live the way the world lives. Both sources are inspired by God, who knows best how to achieve success in life. Then the question comes: Is it really going to make a difference whether we use face cards or some other kind of cards?
Well, I don't know. But I'll tell you this: I'm willing to bet on it.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Nephi's Purpose
Nephi, the first author in the Book of Mormon, explains one of his purposes in writing in the very first chapter of the book. After relating how his father was called, served and rejected as a prophet-- along with numerous others called of God in Jerusalem-- he states:
But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance.
There are many messages in this single sentence. One is the message of a merciful god. Another might be that we are chosen and extended mercy based upon our faithfulness. Still another may be that we can become mighty if we have faith and the grace of God.
A message that stands out to me in this passage is the role of agency in our path to deliverance. Even with faith and the grace of God, Nephi aims to show us through his experiences that we are not automatically delivered but rather given the strength and power necessary to bring about deliverance. In other words, though God may give us strength, we must still choose how that strength is used. God will not force our salvation. Though God may give us insight, we must choose to use that insight to build our testimonies. Though God may extend tender mercies without number, it is our decision to take action and make our goals reality.
When times got tough, Nephi chose to remember the tender mercies he had received and gather strength from the memory of them. When his heart groaned inside, he responded resoundingly: "I know in whom I have trusted. My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions...filled me with his love...confounded mine enemies...heard my cry...[and] given me knowledge... O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy, why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions?" (2 Nephi 4:17-35).
Like Nephi, it is given to us to choose. Each of us may experience the tender mercies of the Lord in our lives. How do we respond? Do we remember the prompting to spend more time with the kids when the boss asks if we can work more overtime this week? When we cannot see what lies ahead do we trust that God will see us through? Are we willing to share the testimonies God has given us and remember the special experiences that helped it grow?
This is the message of agency and empowerment that inspired Nephi to make his record in the Book of Mormon. His efforts were guided by the Lord and his words are true. With prayerful study, I hope that Nephi's reason for writing may also become our reason for reading-- that through the guidance of the scriptures we may have the opportunity to act in faith and be numbered among the mighty.
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